12 Back-to-School Home Ideas From HGTV Magazine

Kids will run right to the pantry when they get off the bus — unless you have your snack station ready. Transform a standard bar or kitchen nook into an organized after-school snack shop. Decorate spare counter space with healthy treats. Stock a mini fridge with seltzers and other kid-friendly pours.

The cooler the desk, the more incentive to do homework. Designer Jo Gick tricked out her son's study area. She used a laser cutter to make those wooden sunglasses frames, painted them green (Meadow Green by Rust-Oleum) and got custom-fit mirrors. As for the accent wall, it's covered in cassette tapes from eBay and Craigslist. Jo spray-painted clear cassettes with bright colors. She glued them all onto plywood, then attached that to the wall. The chair and desk are both from HomeGoods.

The key to conquering back-to-school is staying organized — and it all starts in the entryway. Avoid clutter and chaos by creating a cohesive entry where every item has a designated spot. Hang backpacks and jackets on hooks. Line up bins for shoes, basketballs or other knickknacks. Suspend a pegboard, then add shelves so kids have a place to leave water bottles, sunglasses and keys. Every item has a home, and your life just got easier.

This lofted bed doubles as a study space, complete with a bookshelf (perfect for displaying sports trophies!) and a desk. Plus, there's so much extra room to play, relax after school and do homework.